KARAOKE in Minnesota

Dave: Six months ago I was in Minnesota with my other band Zambonis on tour with Guster. Three months prior all of Guster spoke of/raved about the greatest bar in the world called U Otter Stop Inn. This place is Fellini meets Minnesota, with a dollop of Brooklyn.

Shank: Being from Brooklyn I had my doubts, but sho’ nuff this place had something special. All the ingredients that make karaoke all it can be. That’s right KARAOKE.

Dave: Before we begin our story, let it be known we left a paper plate with the name of the bar and “Guaranteed Fun” written in big letters in Barenaked Ladies’ dressing room. We started like any good karaoke crew would. Two pitchers of beer and some hard liquor. We were ready.

Shank: At first it was just us LeeVees each pouring through the karaoke “menu” for songs that fit our individual needs and purposes. I broke the ice with The Manhattans’ “Kiss and Say Goodbye”.

Dave: Shank can’t tell you so I will, he not only started the evening he almost clearly finished it with such an awesome performance.

Shank: Shucks. After the locals, like T-Bone and older guy who sings from belly did stellar versions of classics like Folsom Prison Blues and Plush, and of course the guys that did If I Had a Million Dollars by BNL, it was our turn to bring the noise once more.

Dave: Much to our delight, BNL walks in the door with a look that kind of questioned our “Guaranteed Fun” guarantee.

Shank: So we drank. And so did they.

Dave: The party lords sprinkled their guaranteed fun dust upon our keppes. The night took off.

Shank: Dave and I were called up to what we thought would be Rock This Town but turned out to be Stray Cat Strut. Refusing to be caught off guard we freestyle scatted over Setzer’s Stray Cat backbeat. Issues covered included: sounds my hat makes, suggestions to the locals that the walleye is a fine fish and rhymes with knish. BNL was in stitches and the locals cried out for more.

Dave: Next up was Adam and his friend Courtney J with a straight up rockin version of Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks’ duet Stop Draggin My Heart Around. It Burned. Then Shawn LeeVee stepped up to the plate with Pump It Up by
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and hit it out of the park.

Shank: And now the funniest performance of the night, Tyler of BNL did a remarkable, ground breaking rendition of BTO’s You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet. He took many liberties with the lyrics, more often than not opting for neng neng nennen nengneng nennenenne neng nengs than regular people words. Dave and I agree it was among the funniest things we’ve witnessed. See pic for a taste.

Dave: Kevin, BNL’s keyboardist did Take a Walk on the Wild Side. The moment he started I looked at Shank and Shawn and said he needs some girls for the backup parts. We jumped in with some nice doop doo doops. Next,
Ed of BNL did a tear jerking Hello by Lionel Richie. We wept.

Shank: Steven did Wham’s Everything She Wants. After which he Dave and I decided we need to scat more often, perhaps a side project is in the works…The three of us proceeded to scat through STP’s Plush and more.

Dave: Such a fine night could only be properly concluded by singing a heartfelt End of the Road by Boyz II Men. Tyler called The LeeVees and his fellow BNLers to the mic to sing it out together. We gave it all we had. And were spent.

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Who are The LeeVees?

Name four great Hanukkah songs. OK, then how about two good Chanukkah songs? Not easy, huh?

Adam Gardner (Guster) and Dave Schneider (the Zambonis) have taken up the important task of writing a bunch of great, rockin’ Hanukah songs.

They have a new album of indie-pop rock songs called Hanukkah Rocks. . Check out the full album stream and if you like it head over to our Shop and buy the download, the CD, a sticker, or even a LeeVees t-shirt!